Sheet-feeding mechanism for printing-presses.



o. M. KNBPPLBR. SHEET FEBDINGMBCHANISM I-"OR PRINTING PRESSES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29. 1911.

Patented Nov. 19, 1912.-

ATTORNEY c. M. KNBBPLER. SHEET EEEDING MECHANISM POR PRINTING PRESSES.

APPLICATION FILED 11017.29. 1911.

Paented.lov.19,1912.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

NI/ENTOH m m U A G. M. KNEPPLER. SHEET FBBDING MEGHANISM FAOR PRINTING PRESSES.

, APPLIOATIN FILED NOV. 29. 1911. 1,044,665.

vPatented NOV. 19, 1912'.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

AQ 0 A? c 'manner GL M. KNEPPLBR.

SHEET FEEDING MEGHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29, 1911` ,1 ,044, 5 Ptented Nov. 1'9, 1912.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

'lllllll TORNEY C. M. KNEPPLER. SHEET FEEDING MEGHANISM FOB. PRINTING PRESSES.

. A??LIOATION ELED HOV. 29, 1911. 1,044,665

manner o, M. KNEPPLBR. SHEET FEEDING MEGHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES.

-APPLICATION PILED,NOV. 29. 1911.

Patented Nov. 19,'1912.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

TURNEY Cia ACIHAEJJES M. KNEEPLER, GF NEXV YORK, N. Y.

SHEETFEEDING MCHANISM FOR .PINTING-PRESSES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ntented Nov. 19, i912.

Application filed November f, i913. Serial No. 6631167.

To til 'whom t 4may @wacom s Be itknoivn that i, CHARLES itc/i, Enne i Enne, it citizen the Uniteri States. and s i resident of New' .iork, borough ot Brookijy'nn in the oo ty or". Kings anti State 03'? New 'irorh7 have mede and inventori certain' Feeding ifechonisni for P inting-i'esses, of which the .t'oiiowing is e speci'rieution.

My invention relates to sheetfeeding mechanism for printing presses ot the tjg'ie designed to print upon sepa and distinct sheets of peperi as distinguished from presses designed to print upon it continuous web; end the objects thereoitl nre to provide sheet feeding ineens dependent upon the pressure of the Litinos'phere for grasping the separate sheets in siieeession, separating thei'n from other sheets o t si piie of sheets, finti moving them in position he engog'cci by iffeed i'oiiers whereby they are advanced toward the press; to provide. .meins fiev peinient upon a Current of nir for tneiiitot ing the separation of the sueets in succes sion from the sheets iieneoth them; to provide ineens for separating the renr end of each top sheet in succession of the sheetsi upon which itrests in order. that the top i sheet niej; be more readily moved toivtud new and usefiii improvements-in SheetH i i the reciting roits en thepress by the sheet i resetting means tiret shove. referred to; tol provide ineens for arresting the operation of the entire feeding mechanism in'I tivo or more sheets are siiniiitsneous novaneed toiverct-l the press; to provide t ineens t'oi'streightening the sheets before they i are seltenes-i to the .feeding roiis, in esse l i one .side oit the sheet shonhf he in advance i ot' the other; and to provide such otheril iin'rovements fn and reinting to sheet teeth i ing niechonisn'i ot the type shore reiferreci to i ss are hereinafter fiescriheri :ind iiiustrsteci i in the rirmvnigs accompanying this :ippiif cation, ami chiirneii in the conciutiing claims. i hiie in es 'thing in v invention i roter il to the sheet ieeriing: mechanism as nseei in i i 1. l i i i i i connection with o printing pres l thereby n` Ltiring that the sheets are printeti i? i in v invention 'is cquiiiiv sppiioehie for the purpose ot' feeding separate. sheets to inerhine which operates upon them otherwise than. by impressing printed matter upon their snrface, as', lfor eziainpie, to nmchines which torni noxes, envelope, hianks of ver' rions forms and for vzironsnses, or other erticies o ms'nuficture from the sheets;

the sheets operated upon may be either' peper es that terni s commonly understood, or mettermi other than paper.

n the secornpenying drawings wherein preterret embodiment of my sheet feesinieehnnisin ire it ieet is a view showing my improved feeding mechanism in pian; Fig. 2 is o 1s e view showing a section t'akenupon verticali piane indicated hy the tine 3-3, ig.Y l; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary View showingr a sidel eievation of means for straightening the sheets before they are grasped and advanced to the feeding rolls; Fig. 5 isa. view showing the saine seen `from o position to the right or' Fig. g Fig. G is a trag-- nientsry vier; showing a portion of the ineens for arresting the operation of the entire sheet feeding mechanism in oase two or incre sheets nre advanced :it the sinne time: Fig. 'Y is a'sniii-.ir View showing a section of the sonic mechanism upon e vertieni inne transferee io the teeiiino roiis" erated; ig. 9 is view showing a detail of certain pneumatic ineens for separating fieri from s. piieoi sheets sts; Fig, l0 is :i fragion-ingg pneiunntic. means e seperate sheets and aded roii's; i il is ung the same rnechunimi with i e parts in. e second position; is e sirniier vien' iihistrnting; the seine niet nnieni with. the parts in a third position, the sheet having been carried into a position between the feed roiis; Fig. 13 is :i vieri' showing e section upon e transverse pinne inriicated "oy the iinelvfl, Fig. `i0; ig. 'it e view showing a sec-tion upon a upon is a view showing the 'saine noechsnism pertiy in section ami partly 1n side eleva# tion; this view being taken upon the piene view showing the sume in side elevation;h

shove reterreri to is shown;

other position; and, Fig'. Qlris aview show- 'dil ing a detail of the driving connection for operating the mechanism shown-in Figs.

ie lo ec.

Referring to the drawings, the reference character 25 designates a plurality of tapes 'or belts, the same passing around pulleys 26--27 supported on shafts 28-29, which in turn are supported in suitable bearings in the frame 3@ of the press, these belts or tapes vheilig supported along their length by a. series of rolls B1 upon transverse shafts 3E?, the endsof which area-lso supported in the frame of the press. These belts serve as supports for a pile of sheets of pa er as shown in Fig. 1, where 33 indicates t e pile of sheets. The forward end of the pile of sheets rests upon the table 34 which extends across the' feeding mechanism.

The pile of sheetsof paper is advanced toward the left, Figs. 1, 2 and 3, `soas to keep the fernard end thereof in position such that the top sheet may be grasped, as hereinafter explained, and advanced toward the press. The means for operating t-he belts 25 and thereby moving the pile of sheets upon them forward, so .as to keep the front ends of the sheets in position to be grasped and moved toward the press, is shown at Figs. 1, 2, 3 and @from which motion is transmitted to the, transverse shaft 28 through gears SCi-437. The mechanism is operated from the main driving` shaft 38 through a connecting rod 39 and clam 4Q.

The mechanism above briefly referred to for rotating the shaft SSan-d advancing the tapes or belts 25, and the pile of them, forms no part of the invention disclosed andl claimed4 in this `present application, as such mechanism, together with other -mechanism for feeding press is fully .described application for patent for sheetfeeding mechanism' for printing presses, filed Octobcr 12th,'1910, Serial BT01586368.

and claime in my The reference numeral `il designates a` transversely extending feed -roll by means of which individual sheets separated` from the pile of sheetsupon` the tapes 25 and table 34, and advanced bvmeans of pneumatic feedin device whici forms a part of Inv mvention, areadvanced separatelv toward the press.l The sheets are advanced to the printing mechanism of the press by any suitable mechanism, `rich, for instance, as

sheets uponY -from themain driving shaft 38.

sheets of pa er to a the mechanism disclosed and claimed in Letters Patent for feeding mechanism for printing presses, granted to nie on March 252th, 1910, No. 33.273,1 hut which advancing mechanism is shown iu a conventional nianner in the drawing as comlnfising a series of bauds fl-Q. The feed roll L1-1 is ope ated coin tinuousli7 from' the main driving shaft 38 by means of au),r suitable gearing, as, for example, the gears 43, L14, 4o' and 47, this latter gear being secured to the sha f t 4:8 to which the feed roll. 41 secured, and the roll `il may be either continuous or made up of a plurality of separate rolls secin'ed to the shaft 48.

The device whereby the individual sheets are straightened before heilig fed to 'ard the press', in case one side of the sheet is iu :nl-

vauce of the other, is shown separatelyv iu,

Figs. l and and is shown in the position which it occupies relative to the other elements of my complete sheet feeding mechanism in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. This sheet strai litening means will include two such devices as are shown in Figs. 4 and 5, one upon each side of a feeding mechanism, so as to engage each side one of the devices in question ap )ears in Fig. 1. Each of the mechanisms .flbove referredio comprises a? roller Ll() suppaiirtef'l upon. a shaft li() at the lower end of a swinging frame 51, which frame is operated from a rotating shaft suitably journaleil in the frame 30 of the sheet feeding mechanism, the frame 51 being capable of oscilllitory motion about the shaft 59 as a center. lhe frame 51 is provided withn :in arm the under side of which arm is engage j rollerr at the free end of an arm 55.? scoured to an oscillating shaft 5G, which shaft oscillated` by means of a cam il? :ufling through a reciprocating rod 58 the upper end of which is secured lo an arm atl, which arm ir secured to the shaft 56. The cam 57 d by a transverse shaft Fill which shaft also supports the gear 44 lurreiuhe'ore referredto, the shaft (il) being thus driven Y 'lfhe cani 5T thcreforc im} 'iarts oscillating movement to the shaft 56, and the roller 54- at the free end of the arm 55 secured to such shaft acts upon the under side of the arm .'l, thus swinging the frame 51 about the shaft S12 and .imparting an up and down movement to the roller 1-9. A. presser-foot' 181 is pivotally 'connected to the free end of the arm 53 and moves witlrthe frame 5l..

'.ihc roller 49 is driven in thc dirci-,lion shown by the arrow in Fig'. 4, that in a .direction opposite to the direction of rola tion of the feed roll 41, from which it follows that the eriphery thereof will engage the forward) edge of the sheets of paper and push` the sheets backward, and, il being ICmembered, that :there one such n1ecl1aof the sheet, although only hotesse nism as is shown in Figs. 4 and 5 at each sideofnthesheet, it will be obvious that if one side of the sheet is in advance of the other, that side will be pushed back, and the sheet thus straightened, and the front edge thereof brought into position parallel with.

the feedroll 4l before the sheet is moved toward the roller and advanced to the press. This action takes place when the roll t9 is in its lowermost position during which time the presser-foot 181 rests upon the pile of sheets, the purpose of the presser-foot being to prevent displacement ofthe top sheet while the roller 49 is acting upon the sheets.

The mechanism whereby motion is transmitted from the shaft 52 to the roller t9 comprises a shaft G1 supported in bearings carried by the frame 51, which shaft is drivenby worm-gearing shown at 62-63; and the shaft 52 is driven by means ofv a sprocket chain 65 passing around suitable sprockets, one of which is carried by a transverse shaft 66, this latter shaft being'.

driven from the main driving shaft 38 through the gears 43, 44, 15, hereinbefore referred to. y

The reference character 64 designates a sprocket chain by means of which the entire sheet feeding mechanism is driven. The sprocket chain 64e passes around/a` sprocket wheel 67 from which the main driving shaft 38 hereinbefore referred to is driven, there being a suitable clutch of any kind inter- .posed between the sprocket wheel 67 and shaft 38 whereby said shaft may be disconnected from the sprocket wheel and theentire sheet feeding mechanism stopped in case two or more sheets start for the press at vthe same time. The clutch in question is operated by means of the yoke 68 supported by means of brackets 69 secured to the frame of the machine, which yoke has a proj eeting arm 7? at the free end of which is connected a rod 7l. This rod has a collar 72, and 73 is a guide secured to the frame of the feeding mechanism through which the rod 71 passes. A spring Kel surrounds the rod 7l, which spring is under compression and the ends of which rest respectively againstthe collar 72 and guide 73.

From the above it will be understood that the tendency of the spring T4 is to force the rod 71 toward the left, thereby swinging the l free end ofthe yoke 68 away from the frame et' 'the machine, whereby the clutch will be disconnected and the entire sheet feeding operation interrupted.

The spring '.74 sion as specified, and movement et the rod 71 inthe manner above mentioned is restrained by mechanism as follows. The free end ofthe red 7l is pivetally connected with a swinging sector 75 supported from the frame at 7G and having a shoulder 7'?, which shoulder is engaged by the lower end of a The rolls 90 and 99 are normaliv or.

is normally under/compres i lever 78 pivotally secured to the frame at 79. The upper end of this lever is bifurcated and is engaged by a pin 80 carried at the lower endl of an arm secured to an oscillating shaft 8l. T he shaft 8l kis provided with '70 one or more arms 82, and 83 `is .a lever pivote ally supported from an arm 84 and the right hand end of which engages the arm Q as (Jiu shown in Figs. l, 2, 3 and 7. The arm Sil pro-jects from a frame member 85 carried by .75

a transverse oscillating shaft 86, the ends of which have bearings 1n the frame 3Q ofthe machine. The shaft 86 1s provided with an larm at one end and SS, (see Fig. 8) is a link the upper end of which is connected with said arm, and the shaft 86 is oscillated to swing the/frame member 85 by means ot' a cam 89 upon the shaft 60 which cam imparts 'vert-ical movement to the link 88.

The frame member 85 carries a roller 90 3.5

lccatedabove the feed roller 41, said roller being vertically movable in slots 91 provided at the lower end of the frame 85. VVthe roller 9G is carried by a shaft' the ends of which extend through the slots-91; and the 9e ends 4of said shaft are supported by springpressed rods 93, the upper and lower ends of lwhich move through guides upon the frame member 85, as best shown in Fig. (5.

`Springs 9st surround the rods and serve 95 which is secured a roller 99' and a cam 100,105

the roller and cam beingsecured together so as to form effect a single member; and the roller 99 is locateo above the roller 90, but is normally out of contact t7 ewitlt tact with one another so that the roll Stlmay rotate witlr'iut imparting motion vto the rollerwand cam 1GO. This is what. occurs when 'asingle sheet only passes between the feed roller ll and the roller 90. ever, two or more sheets pass between these rollers at the same time, the rolii r will be moved upward, this movementbeing permitted by the springs 94, whereupon said roller engages the roller gether with the cam 100.

The right hand end of the lever S3 carries a roller lOl which is in contact with the cam 100 shown in l `ig.7,and, it being reinem4 bered that the otherfcnd of the lever 33 con m5 such that its lower end engages the notch 130 is provided with lG of con- '110 lf, howand rotates tcof the sector 7 5, thus preventing the spring 741 from operating thevyoke .68, and disconnecting the clutch between the sprocket wheel 67 and main shaft 38. If, however, the roller 90 is forced upward by two or more sheets between it and the roll 41, as above explained, the said roller will engage and operate the roller 99 and cam 100, which cani will operate upon the roller 101 and tip the lever S3 into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7, whlch action will oscillate `the .shaft S1 and swing the lower end of the 'lever 78 free from the notch 77 thus permitting thespring 74 to actuate the clutch and disconnect the driving shaft in the manner hereinbefore referred to.

The `volte 96 and adjusting screw 97 are' provided in order that the roller 00 and cam 100 may be adjusted relative to the roller 90 in order to compensate for sheets of varying thickness, and to insure that the clutch will be thrown whenever' more than one' sheet is advanced toward the press at the same time. 4 y

The construction and' operation of the means whereby separate and individual sheets are 'rasped and `moved into a position such tlgiat they will be seized and forwarded to the press by the feed roll 41 is as follows: The reference numero-l 102 designates an oscillatingtransverse shaft supported in suitable bearings in the frame 30 and having an arm v103 to one end of which is connected a reciprocating rod 104 having a roller at its lower end in engagement with a cam 105'upon the shaft 60. The `shaft 10Q serves to impart oscillating or swinging motion to one or more pneun matic feeding devices, such as are shown in Figs. 10 to 15,; Fig. 1 of the drawing sliowing my improved sheet feeding mechanism as providec. with two of such devices.

Referring to Figs. 10 to 15, 106 is a reciprocating supporting 1neinber,"the upper end of which is shown as provided with a bearing 107 through which the shaft 102 extends, andjwhereby said supporting member is cariied by said shaft. This support-- ing member is provided with a longitudinal passage within which fits a reciprocating hollow barrel 108, and within this barrel and movable relatively thereto'is a rod 100.. The lower end of the barrel 10S is closedby a cap 110 provided with a central passage and a Vvalve'seat 111, and the -lmver vend ot' the rod 100` is shaped to form a valve adapted to coperate with the seat 111 and there, by control said passage, said rod boing prolonged to provide'a stem 112 which extends through the passage aforesaid; end of the cap 110 is provided with a rubber washer 113. The upper end of theY ba r- .rel 10S is provided with a bracket 114;, and the upper end of t-herod 109 is provided with a ldepression atV 115; and a spring The" lower pressed rod 116 is provided, one end of which engages the depression 115 and the' 'moved as hereinafter explained. The bracket 1111 and rod 110 move in a slot 117 provided in the swinging ,supporting member 100. The reciprocating barrel 108 is moved within the bearing provided for it in the swinging support 100 by means of a swinging cam member 11S, secured to the shaft 102, the lowery portion of which' Aam member is shaped to form a cam surface. The swinging support 106 provided lwith an arm 119 which `carries a pivotally supported lever 120 provided with rollers 127 at each end designed to be operatively engaged by a cam surface atd'he lower end of the swinging cam member 11S. This lever is provided with a slot 121 and the barrel 108 is provided with pins 122 which project throughy slots. 193 in the vswinging support -106 and through the slots 121 inthe lever 120, 'se that as said lever is swung upon its .pivot 1245'the barrel 108 will be moved up and down. I preferably provide the pivot 124 with an arm 125 located opposite the swinging lever 120 so as to prevent binding as the barrel 108 is moved, this arm being provided with a slot similar to the slot 121, as best shown in Fig 15.

From the above description, it will be understoml that as the cam member 11S is oscillated bv means of the shaft 102 the recip' rot-ating barrel 108 will be moved downward.vtbe barrel boing shown in its upper position invFig.. 10 and in its lower position iii-Fig. 1l,

The cani member 11Sis preferably provided with a pivoted vielding portion 126 in order to avoid injury to the parts if the lower end ot' the cap 110 should contact with an unyieldingsurface before the cam has frompleted its swinging motion` this yielding portion ot' the cam 'surface being held in position bv' a spring 1-11 contained .in a barrel formed in the cam member.

rlbe pivot. 12S whereby the yielding portion 120 ofthe cani surface is secured to tbe member 11S is prolonged and carries a stop-V graspa sheet and carrv its forward edge' into a position. ahovevthe feed roll. 41. Finali i thc rolls 90 are lowered into contact with the upper surface of the sheet to press thesame against the feed roll- 41, whcreupon said roll advances thc sheet toward Vaus the ress.

T ie reference character 142 designates a ,reciprocating pipo thc upper endv of which is provided lwith a nozzle adapted to discharge a stream of compressed alr along the under surface of a sheet of paper toward the rear end thereof after it has been liftedl by the pneumatic feeding device disclosed in Figs. 10 to 15, to fthereb more effectively separate the sheetv from tiepilc of sheets beneath it and ,enable it to be moved for'- ward tdt-ne feed rolls 41y withl a minimum danger of becoming 'detached from the end of `this pipe, and the nozzle referre arc shown 1n Fig. 9, which figure also lllus;

pneumatic feeding mechanism. The upper utrates a sleeve 143 through Iwhich the pipe!` moves, .and by which it is guided. The 'pipe-j`4` 1n question is provided with a part 144 adapted to register with the discharge end nf the compressed air discharge conduit 145 through ivhchair is sup nlied. The port is preferably 'so arranger.. 'that when the pipe 142 in it lfm most uosition air from. thclconduit will ln. t oi from the interior of the/pipe,v al i gli ythe port may conununicate with the pipe 145 at all times if desired. :The iipe 142 is moved upward to bring its disc arge nozzle in line with the under side of the sheet after the saine has been lifted as explained by means of a cani 146`upon the main driving shaft 38, said cam acting upon the free end of an arm 147 securedto an ascillat-ing shaft 148 to which shaft is secured a second arm 149,

Mss

-across the sheet feeding -8. SEGOB thel free end of which is connected with the lower end of the pipe 142. As'many ofthse pipes y142 andnozzles'will be provided as may be found necessary to loosen the sheet fron; the pile of sheets beneath it, two or more of such pipes being usually arr'an ed mechanism. he sleeve 143 is supported means of an arm 150 sup orted by the sha t 148 together with transverse shaft 151, the shaft 148 fitting loosely in the arm', and the shaft 151 preventing the same from turning about the shaft 148 as a center.

Figs. 16 to 20 inclusive show the mecha-l ni'sm which I provide for separating or The mechanism in question conia transverse rod 153, which rod is held in'a.'

definite -position by means of adjustablen 4radius barsorrods 154;' the rear ends of "which rods aie' connected with said frame' and the front ends of which passV through sleeves 155 supported upon the shaft 102. The bars 154 are ad'ustable throu h the sleeves, so that the r 153 can be a justed for different llengths of sheets and the frames 1,52. held in proper position at the roar `end of the pile of sheets. The sleeves 155 are loose uponthe shaft 102 so that the frames 152"and mechanism ywhich they carry may be so as to rest upon the top of the ile of'sheets irrespective of the thickness olf) the pile, and the" said frames descend as the sheets are fed tfrom the pile, the mechanism iri question always resting directly upon the upper surface of the sheets The framesf152r su port a transverse driving shaft 156 Wtichl shaft is driven through bevel gearing vshown at '157 yfron'i a rotary sleeve 15?) loosely su ported Y.upon the oscillatin shaft 81, sai sleeve being driven from tie Shaft 52 b means of a sprocket chain 159 and suitab e sprocket Wheels. 'lhe'oscillating shaft 81 also sup port-s a frame 16() which frame serves as a support from a stub shaft upon which is located'a pinion 161 driven from a similar pinion 162 upon the sleeve 158. 'O rati-vely connected with the pinion 161 is a vel gear 163 which meshes with a second bevel gear 164- in sliding operative engagement with the forward end of a driving shaft 165 through which motion is transmitted to the bevel gears 157, and, consequently to the driving shaft 156. The rear end of the shaft 165 is supported yin a frame 180 carried b the shaft 156. The forward end of thesha 165 is Supported in the frame 160 above referred to, and said shaft is referably made los i in sections, and is preferab y made adjustable through the bevel gear 164 by means of a key way and key or equivalent sliding eni the gearing but being always in driving cn- 'gagelncnt herewith as shown. Reciprocat' of a l TheA nca/rases 166 .from a cam 16S upon the driving shaft 156, said cam acting' upon a roller 169 carried by an oscillating member 170, one end of which member is supported upon the transverse rod 153 while its free end is bifurcated to provide a series of lugs 171 which engage a collar 172 upon t-he shaft 166. The oscillating member 170 "is provided with an arm 173 'to-which' one end of a spring 174: is attached, the purpose of which is to keep the roller 169 in contact with the cam 168. The reference character 175 designates a holding member adapted to engage the pile of sheets and prevent them from displacement while the upper sheet of the pile is being forwarded yto the press. This member is shown as in the form of a lever pivotally `supported from the frame 152 at 17 6, and 177 is a link the lower end i of which is pivotally connected with the lever 17 5, while its upper end is connected with the oscillating member 70; from which it follows that' as the member 170 is raised by means of the cam 168, the right hand end, referring to Fig. 16, of the holding member 175, will be tipped downward and the free end thereof brought into contact with the "'pil'e of sheets of paper. i The lower end of 'be acted upon by the finger 179.

the rotary reciprocating shaft 166 is provided with an arm 17 8 which carries an eccentri'cally located linger 179, preferably of rubber. It being remembered that t-he shaft 166 is continuously rotated, the operation of this portion of in) sheet feeding mechanism is as follows: Thepa'rts being in the posi' .tions shown in Figs. 16 and 17, the driving shaft 156 will move the cam 168 from beneath' the roller 169 thus permitting the shaft. 166 to descend until the finger 179 engages the upper sheet of the pile, whereupon as 'the shaft rotates the portion of the top sheet engaged by the finger is pushed aside as indicated'in Fig.l 20, thus loosening the rear edge thereof from the pile of sheets be- The downward movement of the incontact 'with the sheets acts to move the feoend of the lever away from the pile of sheets as shown, thus leaving` them free to I As the shaft 156 continues to rotate the cam 16S again engages the roller 169 and lifts the .finger 179 from the top sheet, this same movement carrying the link 177 upward and swinginf'the lever 175 upon its pivot to bring its free end again into engagement with the pile of sheets of paper, from which the upper sheet has been freed, thus preventing displacement of the remainue sheets of the pile during the forward movement of the upper sheet.

The mechanism above referred to is timed relative tothe pneumatic feed mechanism for forwarding the top sheet to the feed roll ing movement is communicated to the shaft l in such a manner that the rear edgenof the sheet is operated upon to loosen it 'aforesaid at about the same time thatthe forward end is lifted by means ofthe pneumatic feedmechanism above referred to,

and also atabout the Sametime that the pipe 142 is raised into position to discharge a stream of air beneath the top sheet, from which it follows that the top sheet is effectively loosened or separated from the pile of sheets beneath it throughout its entire length; and, as the. same is moved forwardtoward the press, 1t moves a layer of airbetween the sheets; while at the same time the rear ends of thev pile of sheets remainingupon the belts Q5 are securely held in position and the remaining sheets prevented from being displaced during the feeding operation. f Y

Having thus described and explained my invention, 'I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent i 1. In sheet feeding mechanism for printing presses, a feed roll adapted to forward separate sheets of paper toward a press; means for moving a pile of sheets toward said roll; a second roll adapted to engagethe forward edge ofthe sheets for straightlening them before they are operated upon by said feed roll; and. means ada ted to operate upon each successive top As eetI of the pile' after it has been straightened as aforesaid for moving the successive top sheets from the pile and into position to be acted upon by said feed roll.

2. ln sheet feeding mechanism for printing presses, a feed roll adapted to forward separate sheets of paper toward a press; means for moving a pile of sheets toward said feed roll; a second roll adapted to engage 'the forward edge of the sheets; means` for rotating said second roll in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of lsaid feed roll ;4 and means adapted to operate upon each successive top sheet of the pile afterit has been straightened as aforesaid ln sheet feeding mechanism for printingI presses, a feed roll adapted to forward separate sheets of paper toward a press; means for moving a pile of sheets toward said feed roll; a second roll adapted to engage the forward edge of the sheets; means for moving said second roll toward and from said sheets: means for rotating saidl second roll in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said feed roll; und means for moving' separate sheets from the pile and into position to be acted upon b v said feed roll.

fl. ln sheet. feeding mechanism for printing presses, a feed roll adapted to forward separate sheets of paper toward a press;

means for moving apile of sheets toward said feed roll; a rotating shaft; means for operating said shaft; a frame carried by said shaft; a second roll carriedlby said frame and movable toward and from the sheets operated upon; means for rotating said second roll from said lrotatingshaft and in a direction opposite to the direction of rotationy of said feed roll; means for dfto thereby move said second roll and said' lnoving said second roll toward and from said feed roll; and means for moving separate sheets from the pile and into position to be acted upon by said feed roll.

5. In sheet feeding 'mechanism for printing presses, a feed roll adapted to forwardseparate sheets of paper toward a press; means for moving a pile of sheets toward said feed roll; a rotating shaft.; a frame carried by said shaft and movable about the same as a center; a second roll carried by said frame; spiral gearing interposed between said rotating shaft and said roll and adapted to rotate said roll in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said feed roll; an oscillating shaft; means forI oscillating said shaft `;7 an arm' carried by said shaft and in operative engagernent with said frame and by means of which said second roll may be moved toward and from said feed roll; and means for mov-ing separate sheets from the pile and into position to be acted upon by said feed roll.

6. In sheet feeding mechanism for printing presses, a fed roll adapted to forward separate sheets of lniper'toward a press;

means for moving a pile of sheets toward said feed roll; a second roll adapted to cngage the forward edge of the sheets before they are operated upon by' said feed roll;

ymeans for rotating said second rollin 'a fdirection opposite to the direction of rotation of said feed roll; a presser-foot adapted to engage the sheets at the time they are being operated upon by said second roll; means for simultaneously moving said second roll and said presser-foot toward and from the pile of sheets; and means for moving separate sheets from the pile and into posit-ion, to be'acted upon by said feed roll. 7. Ipfsheet feeding mechanism for printing presses, a feed roll adapted to forward separatesheets of paper toward a press; means for moving a pile of sheets towardv said roll; a rotary shaft; means for operating ksaid shaft; a frame carried by said shaft and movable 'about the same as a centena second roll carried by said frame; gearing inter os'ed between said rotatingr shaftand sai second roll for rotating the latter in a'direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said feed roll; a presser'l foot' carried by said frame; means for oscil` lating said framefabout said rotary shaft presser-foot toward and away from the sheets; and means for moving separate sheets from the pile and into' position to be acted upon by said feed roll. 4

S. In. sheet'feeding mechanism for printing presses, a feed roll adapted to forward separate sheets"of paper toward a press; means for moving a pile of sheets toward said feed roll; a'rotary shaft; an* oscillating frame supported by said rotary shaftlt` second roll carried by 'said frame; gearm interposed between said rotary shaft an said second roll and adapted to rotate the latter in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said feed roll; an arm carried by said frame; an oscillating shaft; an arm carried by said oscillating shaft and the free end of'which isV in operative engagement with said arm and whereby said frame may be moved about said rotary shaft; and a presser-foot pivotally connected with the free end of said arm and ada ted to rest upon the pile of sheets while sai second roll is acting upon the sheets.

9. In'sheet feeding mechanism for printing presses, a feed roll adapted to forward separate sheetsof paper toward a press; means for moving a pile of sheets toward saidfeed roll; a rotary shaft; an oscillating frame sup iortcd by said rotary shaft; a'second roll carried by said frame; a shaft carried by said frame; spiral gearing whereby said second roll is driven from said rotary shaft through the shaft upon said frame and in a direction .opposite to the direction of rotation of said feed roll; an arm carried by said frame; an oscillating shaft; an arm carried b' said oscillating shaft and the free end of w ich is in operative en agement' with said arm and whereby said Aframe may be moved about said rotary shaft; and a presser-foot pivotally connected with the free end of said arm and adapted to rest upon the pile of sheets while said second roll is acting upon the sheets.

l0. In sheet feeding mechanism for printing presses, a feed roll adapted to advance sheets of paper toward the press; driving mechanism for said roll; a clutch whereby said roll may be connected with and disconnected from said driving mechanism; a r0- tary disk between which and said feed roll the sheets pass, said disk bein movable toward and away from said ro l; means for intermittently moving said disk toward and from said feed roll; and means engaged b said disk when it moves away from said ro l for operating said clutch to thereby disconneet said 'feed roll from said driving mechanism.

11. In sheet feeding mechanism for rinting presses, a feed roll adapted to a vence rees; driving said roll may beronnecled with and lisce ,ineeted tron; said driving mechanism. a rotary disk between which and said feed roll the sheets pass; said disk being movable toward and away from said roll; means for intermittently moving; said disk toward and from said feed roll; a second rotary disk normally out of contact with said first disk but with which said first disk mayeontaet when it moves away from .said feed roll, and `whereupon said second disk will be driven by said first, disk: and means operated b v said second disk for operating said clutch to thereby disconnect said feed roll from said driving mechanism.

12. In sheet feeding mechanism for printing presses; a feed roll adapted to advance sheets of paper toward the press; driving mechanism for said roll; a clutch whereby said roll may be connected with and disconnected from said driving mechanism; a rotary disk between which and said feed roll the sheets pass, 'aid disk being movable toward and away from said roll; means for intermittently moving` said disk toward and from said feed roll; a second rotary disk normally out of contact with said first disk but wit i which said first disk may Contact when it moves away from said feed roll, and whereupon said second disk will be driven by said first disk; a cam operated by said second disk; a lever operated by said cam; and means controlled by said lever for operating said clutch to thereby disconnect said feed roll from said driving mechanism.

13. In sheet feeding mechanism for printing presses, a feed rolll adapted to advance sheets of paper toward the press; driving mechanism for said roll; a clutch whereby said roll may be connected with and disconnected from said driving mechanism; a snpporting frame; a rotary disk carried by said supporting-frame and driven from said feed roll and between whichA roll and disk the sheets pass; means for intermittently moving` said frame in away to more the disk carried thereby toward and from said roll; a secon/.l rotary disk normally ont of contact -ith said first disk but with which said first disk may contact when it moves away from said feed roll and whereupon said disk will be driven by said first disk; and means operated by said second disk for operating said clutch to thereby disconnectI said feed roll from said driving mechanism.

14. ln sheet feeding mechanism for printing presses, a feed roll adapted to advance sheets of paper toward the press; driving mechanism for said roll; a cintch whereby said roll may be connected with and disconnected from said drivingA mechanism; a snpportini; frame; a rotary disk carried by said supporting frame and driven from said feed roil and between which roll and disk the sheets pass, said disk being movable is said frame toward and away from said roll; a second rotary disk carried by said snpporting frame and normally out of contactwith said lirst disk but with which said first disk may contact when it moves away from said feed roll; rind whereupon said second disk will be driven b v said first disk; an oscillating shaft whereupon said supporting frame carried; means for operating said shaft to thereby move said .rotary disks away from Said feed roll; and means operated by said second disk for operating said clutch to thereby'Y disconnect said feed roll from said driving' mechanism.

I i5. in sheet feeding mechanism for printing presses, a feed" roll adapted to advance sheets of paper toward the press; driving mechanism for said roll; a clutch whereby said roll may be connected with and disconnected from said driving mechanism; a supporting frame; a rotary disk carried by said supportiiig frame and driven from said feed roll and between which roll and disk the sheets pass, said diskpbeing movable in said frame toward and awayv from said roll; a second rotary disk carried by said supporting frame and normally ont of contact with said first disk but with which said first disk may Contact when it moves away from said f'ed roll, and whereupon 'd second disk will be driven by said irstdisk; an oscillating shaft whereupon said supporting` frame carried; means for-operating said shaft to thereby move said rotary disks away from said feed roll; a cam operated by said second disk; a lever operated by said cam; and means controlled by said lever for operating said clutch to thereby disconnect said feed roll from said driving mechanism.

16. in sheet feeding mechanism for printing presses, a feed roll adapted to advance sheets of paper toward the press; driving mechanism for said roll; a clutch whereby said roll may be 'connected with ind disconnected from said driving mechanism; a supporting frame; a rotary disk 'carried by said supporting frame and driven from said feed roll and between which roll and disk the sheets pass, said disk being movable in said frame toward and away from said roll; a second rotary disk carried by raid supporting frame and normally out of Contact with said rst disk but. with which said rst disk contact when it moves away fromsaid feed roll, and whereupon saidsecond disk will. be driven by said first disk; an oscillating shaft whereupon said supporting frame is carried; means for operating said shaft to thereby move said` rotary disks away from said feed roll; a cam operated by said second disk; lever carried t said frame and operated by said cam; an escillating shaft; an arm secured thereto and with which ree end of storeopera-ted said may contact; second i..

Aisa

by said oscillating shaft; and means controlleil by said second lever for operating said clutch to thereby disconnect said feed roll from said driving mechanism.

17. In sheet feeding mechanism for printing presses, a feed roll adapted to advance sheets of paper toward the press; driving mechanism for said roll; a clutch whereby said i'oll may be connected with and disconnected from said driving mechanism; a supf porting frame; a rotary disk carried by said supporting frame and driven from said feed roll and between which roll and disk the sheets pass7 said disk being movable in said frame toward and away from said roll; a second rotary disk carried by said supporting frame and normally out of contact with said first disk but with lwhich said first disk may contact when it moves away from said feed roll, and whereupon said second disk will be driven by said first disk; an oscillating shaft whereupon said sup ortin frame is carried; means for operating said shaft to thereby move said rotary disks away from said feed roll; a cam operated by said disk; a lever carried by said frame and operated by said cani; an oscillating shaft; an arm secured thereto and with which the `free end of the lever aforesaid may contact; a ,second lever operated by said oscillatin shaft; an oscillating sector with which t e free end of said second lever engages and which sector is operatively connected with said clutch; and a spring for operating said sector and said clutch when the free end of said second lever is moved "out of engagement with said sector. l

1S. In sheet feeding mechanism for printing presses, an oscillating supporting member having a passage extending longitudinally thereof; a hollow barrel located within said passage and movable relatively to said supporting member to thereby bring the lower end of said barrel into contact with a sheet of paper; means for exhausting the air from the interior of said barrel; a passage at the lower end of said barrel whereby communication is established between the externa-l atmosphere and the interior thereof; a valve seat surrounding said passage; a reciprocating rod located Within said barrel and the. ends whereof extend beyond said barrel; a valve located adjacent the lower end of said rod and adapted to cof operate with said valve seat; and means adapted to engage the upper end of said rod to force said valve into contact with its seat.

19. In sheet feeding mechanism for print ing presses, an loscillating supporting mein-l ber provided with a passage extending longitudinally thereof; a hollow barrel located within said passage and movable relative to said supporting member to thereby bring the lower end of said barrel into contact with a sheet of paper; a )ort adjacent the lower end of said barrel; a conduit extending through the wall of said supporting member and with which said port in communication; a passage aty the lower end of said barrel whereby communication is established between the external atmosphere and the in terior thereof; a valve scat surrounding said passage; a reciprocating rod having a valve at its lower end adapted to foperate with siiid valve seat., the lower e d of which rod extends through said passage and the'pper end of which extends beyond the upper end of said barrel; a trip member adapted to en gage the upper end of said rod; and iii-ans for operating said trip member to thereby move said rod and bring said valve into contact with its seat when the sheet is to be released from said barrel.

Q0. ln sheet feeding mechanism for printing presses7 an oscillating supporting inem ber; an oscillating shaft whereby said supporting member is supported; a-hollow bar rel carried by said member and movable relatively thereto to thereby bring the lower end of said barrel into contact' with a sheet of paper; a cam member secured to said oscillating shaft; an oscillating lev`r secured by said supporting member and operated by said cani; means whereby motion imparted to said lever iscommiinicated to said bar rel; means for exhausting the air from the interior of said barrel; a passage at Ihre lower end of said barrel whereby communication. is established between the external at- 4mosphere and the interior thereof; a Arialve seat surrounding said passage;` a reciproeating valve cooperating with said seat: and

means for operating said valve to move it.

from its seat as the lower end of safiii barrel is moved into contact with a sheet of paper, and to move it onto its seat when the sheet is to be released from said barrel.

21. In sheet feeding mechanism for print ing presses, an oscillating supporting member having a passage extending loiigitiidinally thereof; a hollow barrel located with in said passage and movable relatively to said supporting member to thereby bring the lower end of said barrel into contact with a sheet of paper; an oscillating shaft whereupon said supporting member is supported: a cam secured to said shaft: an oscillating: lever carried by said supporting member and operated by said cam: means whereby inotionA imparted to said lever is transmitted to said barrel; means for exhausting the air from the interior of said barrel; ar passage at the lower end of said barrel whereby communication is established between the external atmosphere and the interior thereof; a valve seat surrounding said passage; a reciprocating rod located within said barrel and the lower end of which extends through said passage, and the upper end of'which extends beyond the upper end of said barrel; a valve adjacent 'the lower end of said rod and adapted tocoperate with said valve Seat; a. trip member adapted to engage the upper endet said reciprocating rod; and means for operating said trip member to thereby move said valve onto its seat when the sheet is to be released from said barrel.

Q2. In sheet feeding mechanism for printing presses` an oscillating supporting member having-a passage extending longitudinally'thereof; a hollow barrel located within'said passage and movable relatively to said supporting member to thereby bring the lower end of said barrel `into contact with a. sheet of paper; an oscillating shaft whereupon said supporting member is supported; a rain carried by said oscillating shaft; -means whereby said barrel is operated by said cam; means for exhausting the airfrom the interior of said barrel; a passage at the lower end of said barrel whereby communication isA established between the external atmosphere and the interior thereof; a valve seat surrounding said passage; a. reciprocating valve coperating with said seat; and means for operating said valve to move it from its seat as the lower end of said barrel is moved into contact. with a sheet of paper, and to move it on to its seat when the sheet is to be released from said barrel.

, 23. In sheet feeding mechanism for printing presses, an oscillating supporting member; a hollow barrel carried by said member and movable relatively thereto to thereby bring the lower end of said barrel `into contact with a sheet of, paper; an oscillating shaft whereupon said supporting member is supported; a cam secured to said shaft; means whereby said cam operates said-barrel;means for exhausting the air from the interior of said barrel; a passage at the lower end of said barrel whereby communica-t-ion is established between the external atmosphere an'd the interior thereof; a valve seat surrounding said passage; a reciprocating rod located within' said barrel. the lower end, of which extends through said passage. and the upper end of which extends beyond the upper end of said barrel; a valve adjacent the lower end of said rod to cope'rate 4with `said seat: a spring-pressed trip'carryingr member pivotally connected with the upper end of said supporting member; a trip member pirotally supj'iorted by said trip carrying member: and a stop with which said trip member engages to thereby force its free end against the upper eud ol said rod when the sheet is to be released from said barrel. t

Q4. In sheotife lding mechanism for printing presses, an iilating supporting member having a longitudinally extending pas- 65 Sager a hollow barrel located within said and adapted -passage and movable relatively to said supporting member to thereby bring the lower end of said barrel into contact with a sheet of paper; means for exhausting the air from the interior of said barrel; a passage at the lower end of said barrel whereby communication is established between the external atmosphere and theinterior thereof; a val ve seatV surrounding said passage a reciprocating rod located wit-hin said barrel, the lower end of which extends through said passage and the upper end ofwhich extends beyond the upper end of said barrel.: al valve adjacent the lower end of said rod and adapted t-o coperate with said seat; a spring-pressed trip carrying member pivotally connect-ed with the upper end of said supporting member; a trip member pivotally supported by said 'trip carrying member; and a stop with which said trip member engages to thereby force its free endagainst the upper end of said rod When the sheet is to be released from said barrel.

25. In sheet feeding mechanism for feeding separa-te sheets in succession from the top of a pile of sheets of paper; a frame supported upon the rear end of the pile of sheets; a vertically movable and rotary shaft supported in bearings upon said frame and having an eccent-rieally arranged finger at its lower end; a rotary driving shaft supported in bearings upon said frame; gearing whereby said first-mentioned shaft is operated from said driving shaft; vmeans whereby said vertically movable shaft. is reciprocated from said driving shaft; and a radins rod whereby said frame is held in position adjacent the rear end of the pile.

26. ln sheet feedingmechanism for feeding separate sheets in succession from the top of a pile of sheetsof paper; a frame supported upon the rear end of the pile of sheets; a verticallymovable and rotary shaft supported in bearings upon said frame and having an eccentrically arranged linger at its lower end; a rotary driving shaft supported 'in bearings upon said frame: gearing whereby said first-mentioned shaft is operated from said drivingvshaft.; a cam upon said driving shaft, and means where.- b v said cam imparts vertical movement to said vertically movable shaft; and a radius rod whereby said frame is held in position adjacent the rear end of the pile.

QT. ln sheet feeding mechanism for feeding separate sheets in succession from the top of a pile o1 sheets of paper; a frame; a lei'er pivotally connected with said frame and one end of which is adapted to rest. upon the top of the pile of sheets; a vertically movable. and rotary shaft supported in bearings upon said frame and having an arm at its lower end; a finger adjacent the end of said arm and adapted to engage the top sheet of the pile; a rotary driving shaft Stippel-fed in bearings upon said frame; gearing whereby said first-mei'iiened shaft is opernled from said driving shaft; a VCam upon said driing shaft; ail oscillating niember associated with said frame and operated by said cam, und the free end of which is in operative engagement with said firstnieiitioiied shaft to move it up and down; fr

link connecting Suid oscillating member wit-l1 the other end of said lever; und a V radius rfid whereby said `frame held in Copie; et this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. l

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